Santa 2011

I had to post the series of pictures from our visit to Santa this year.  I love that BOTH my kids were in hysterics.  I knew Katie wasn't going to be happy, but Andy was a surprise.  We already saw Santa this year when we cut down our Christmas tree and he had no issues and chatted with him like he was an old friend.  Not this time. 

For some reason we kept postponing of our visit to Santa this year.  So, we ended up heading downtown on the 23rd (like MANY others).  The line was 2 1/2 hours long before the start of the inside 45 minute line.  But...we had no choice...we were going to brave the line.  Nordstrom got pagers this year (hooray!), so we could spend the 2 1/2 hours shopping (smart on their part).  We headed into Nordstrom and went to the 5th floor...accidentally...and found ANOTHER Santa with NO LINE.  This was the "appointment only" Santa for kids with special needs.  But starting on the 23rd, this Santa became the overflow Santa.  So, we made an appointment and got to see Santa 5 minutes later.  It was our lucky day! 

The kids "happily" waiting to see Santa

As soon as they realized what we were doing, they both started screaming.  Santa's helpers asked if we should have Santa sneak up from behind, but I knew there was no use.  This was the year of crying kids.  When Andy gets nervous or scared he covers his ears.  This all started with the Blue Angels last summer and now it's the default coping mechanism.

Katie...SAVE ME

Just 30 seconds later...happy girl with her candy cane

Kids looking thrilled to be there : )  Ahhh, happy holidays.

Katie - 18 months

Hard to believe that Katie is a year and a half...already.  I think I will say this at every milestone for my kids, but it's crazy how time flies.  I still consider her my "baby" and she has proven to us lately that she is NOT a baby anymore.  This little girl's personality has just exploded.  It's interesting how kids go in phases.  I feel like they are in the same stage for awhile and then one day they seem to just grow up.  It's like it happens over night.  Katie gave us a fun surprise yesterday.  She was distracted downstairs with her "baby" in her mouth (baby bear) and a piece of paper in her hand.  I said, "Katie, walk walk to mommy!"  and...

I have a feeling that this is an example of how Katie is going to be.  She's going to do things on HER timeline, when SHE wants to do it.  This little girl is STUBBORN, but I love it!

Katie, we love you more than you know.  You bring us so much joy!  Here are a few things that you are doing these days:

• Katie always has something in her hand, usually both hands.  She likes to collect things and crawl/climb with her hands in fists.  She also likes to put these things in creative spaces, which means we find toys in all sorts of interesting places.  She also likes to put things in her mouth, which makes the pictures above so appropriate for her at this age.
• She loves to open drawers and empty them.  She even has discovered how to unlock the safety locks.  Her favorite drawers are her sippy cup drawer in the kitchen and mom's make-up drawer in the bathroom. 
• Katie has inherited the "Campbell gunner laugh."  It usually comes out when she is doing something that she knows she is not suppose to do and is caught.
• Katie's feet are tiny. She wears shoes for 0 - 6 month old babies still.  We've gotten a lot of use out of her "baby" shoes.
• Katie will mimic almost anything.  Her most common words are "NO" and "I's" - which means, I want or can I have or give it to me.  At least she is communicating, but it's either NOOOOOO or I's, I's I's I's over and over and over.  I listed her words in an earlier post, and it's fun to hear her vocabulary grow daily.
• Katie loves her thumb and honestly, I love her thumb too.  I know I should be trying to encourage her to kick the habit, but it's her comfort.  She mostly sucks her thumb when she is tired or falling asleep, but lately, when she gets into an uncomfortable situation, her thumb goes in her mouth. 
• She thinks her brother is hilarious.  When he laughs at something, she laughs at it too.  It's really fun to see the two of them interact more and more.
• Her favorite animals are her "baaas" which are her angel dear lambies.  She has two and likes to sleep with both of them.  One usually ends up over her head and she plays with the tag of the other one.
• Katie does not like anything on her head - hats, hoods, you name it. 
• She loves books and likes to read them on her own.  Like I said, she is stubborn.  SHE wants to turn the pages, SHE wants to let me know when she is done.  SHE wants to pick out the book.
• Although Katie is stubborn and likes to be "independent" at home, once we get into a new setting she is very clingy and wants her mom.  It's endearing, but so interesting as compared to her brother.  Andy never had issues with separation anxiety and practically runs away when I drop him off at places.  He'll say, "bye mom, have fun" before I even put my jacket on to leave.  Katie gets a little bit of panic in her eye when she knows we are leaving (playroom at church, leaving her at home with a babysitter, etc.)

Overall Katie is a happy girl.  She likes to flirt with strangers and smiles with her eyes. 

We love you Katie girl, Kates, Katie babes and Missy Moo!  Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives!

Gingerbread Man

One of our afternoon activities this week.  Andy was so proud although was very disappointed when he went to taste his masterpiece.  Oh well, we had fun!

Meals these days

I decided that I need to post more "every day" type events in my blog.  Since these posts go into a book, it's the every day stuff that is easy to forget and that is fun to look back on. 

Meals with Andy and Katie couldn't be more opposite.  Andy resists sitting down for a meal, is a picky eater, and likes to "play" with his food instead of eating it.  Katie "grunts" for her food, shovels with both hands, and will try anything that is placed in front of her.  These extremes make for an entertaining and sometimes tiring meal time.  These pictures are from one of those times when we were eating lunch so I grabbed my camera to document.

Hey Mom, look...I made a birthday cake!

Meanwhile, Katie already finished her food and is playing pick-a-boo

Hey Mom, look, my carrots are airplanes!

Race Track

I was working all day Saturday, and I came home to this:

I'm not sure who was more excited to show me our new "toy," Andy or Kyle. Both had a sparkle of excitement in their eye. They spent the day getting hot chocolate and scones, going to the toy store to pick out a few toys and racing race cars (with Katie tagging along too...although Andy claims she just "gets in the way" of his race track). Back to reality with boring-old-mom on Monday : )





Andy in action

So excited

From the launch perspective



Christmas Creek

We headed up to Christmas Creek again this year - following tradition.  We had a fun morning as a family picking out our tree, visiting Santa, and going for a hay ride.  Andy was excited the whole time.  He loved being "daddy's helper" and actually enjoyed seeing Santa this year.  I had to explain to him that Santa was going to ask him what he wanted for Christmas.  He thought about it while we waited for the 10 minutes in line.  When ran straight up to Santa, and after Katie calmed down (see pictures below), Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas.  Andy calmly replied, "a candy cane."  Ahhh, if only life was still so simple : )  Santa grabbed a candy cane from his basket and told him that was too easy of a request asked if Andy wanted anything else on Christmas day.  He replied, "a train".  Santa asked, "do you like Thomas the Train?"  Andy replied, "yes, any train.  Thank you Santa."  And then he hopped off his lap with a big grin on his face. 

Katie, well she was terrified of Santa.  Not that I expected anything different.  She has stranger anxiety these days. 

After we got our tree, we spent the afternoon decorating for Christmas.  I love the smell of a fresh cut tree!  Wook (Elf on the Shelf) made an appearance too.  Let the holidays begin!

The girls

The boys

Andy starting the hunt for the perfect tree (he kept stopping at the mini trees and wanting those...brings back memories!)

Stopping for a nature pee

Andy's "favorite tree" was this dead branch. 

Standing in front of our tree

Katie and I stood by the tree while the boys went to get the saw.  Andy kept yelling for us to try and find us again...this was his expression when he found us.

Watching daddy cut down the tree

SO excited

Checking out dad's work

Such a good helper

Showing us how strong he is

Katie in mid "noooooo"

Taking the tree back to the car

Waiting for Santa.  Katie looks skeptical

And now terrified...

Come ON...SAVE ME!!

Andy chatting with Santa

And getting his candy cane

Hay ride!